Jenson Button has pop at world champion Sebastian Vettel as German enters record books

JENSON BUTTON climbed from his McLaren like a tank commander and took a pop at Germany.

JENSON BUTTON climbed from his McLaren like a tank commander and took a pop at Germany.

The Brit snatched victory in yesterday's Japanese Grand Prix but won the battle and not the war as third place was more than enough to hand Sebastian Vettel his second straight Formula One world title.

Button admitted he had been seething throughout every lap of the race after the German cut him up at the start.

So Vettel didn't get as far as the podium before he was Button-holed.

The usually mild-mannered Englishman nabbed him and said: "Didn't you see me? I had to back off otherwise there would have been an almighty shunt.

"I might not lift off next time you pull across at the start."

Vettel quickly defended his actions which were not punished by officials.

He said: "By the time I saw Jenson he was already backing off. I wouldn't put him in any danger."

That did nothing to lift Button's mood and when Vettel poured praise on his F1 idol, Michael Schumacher, the Frome Flyer said: "Bloody Germans."

Vettel roared into the record books as the sport's youngest double champion at 24 years and 98 days, taking nearly a year off Fernando Alonso's previous mark.

As he attempted to laugh off the complaints, he pointed to the Ferrari ace, who was second, insisting he had forced him on to the grass at Monza last month.

That was a bridge to far for frosty faced Button who said: "You thought I was Alonso."

In a season of seemingly endless victories it was ironic that Vettel won the title at the one race he was ordered to lose after launching a late charge at Alonso.

Red Bull boss Christian Horner said: "Sebastian is so competitive I had to remind him that he only needed a point when he was looking for ways past Fernando.

"You could see he wanted to win the race but prudence was the better option."

When it was over, Vettel sobbed into the team radio: "Thank you so much every single one. We did it."

It was a day charged with emotion as Button triumphed in the nation he calls his second home.

After parking his car at the wrong end of the Suzuka pit lane to acclaim his fans after his win, he was forced to run the length of the garages to hug Japanese girlfriend Jessica Michibata.

Button, who has chalked up a hat-trick of victories this season, gasped and said: "I didn't realise how uphill it is.

"It is a very emotional victory, especially for the close-knit team of people around me.

"Jessica was bawling her eyes out after the race so it was very difficult to stop myself from crying."

With so much focus on Japan after the tsunami that struck in March, killing more than 15,000 people, Button admitted the win had extra significance.

The grandstands were packed with the victims of the disaster as Bernie Ecclestone forked out £1.8million for tickets for 3000 of them and Sauber's Japanese driver, Kamui Kobayashi, invited 30 more families.

Button, who led F1's fund-raising efforts that raised millions for the families, said: "This circuit is very special to all of us.

"We love this place, so to get a victory here in front of such an amazing Japanese crowd really does mean a lot.

"I need to say big thanks to the team for the improvements we've had over the past few races and today they have been impeccable.

"So congratulations to them, congratulations to the fans - I really believe we put on a good show for them today."

Surprisingly, yesterday's third place was Vettel's second-worst result of the season.

He has racked up nine wins and runner-ups spots.

And he has joined an elite, nine-strong club of back-to-back title winners alongside Alberto Ascari, Juan Manuel Fangio, Jack Brabham, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen and Alonso.

Vettel said: "We have had a fantastic year and the good thing is it is not over yet.

"This was a phenomenal, strong result again today and to win the championship here is fantastic.

"There are so many things I want to say but it's hard to remember all of them.

"I am just so thankful to everyone in the team for pushing hard to build two cars, to fight for a lot of points and to fight for the title."

Vettel's Red Bull team-mate, Mark Webber, was fourth and Lewis Hamilton fifth in his McLaren. A slow puncture early on wrecked his chances and he collided with Ferrari's Felipe Massa.